What does “anasteso” mean in John 6:39?

Question

"And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise [anasteso] it up on the last day" ESV.

John 6:39 says "raise" it on the last day- but John 6:40, 44 and 54 all put "will raise" it.

"anasteso" comes four times in John chapter 6. If one says the same thing 4 times but on one of those occasions say it differently then presumably it is deliberate and to make a particular point.

According to the English-Greek Reverse Interlinear N.T. ESV, the first time, in verse 39, anasteso is aorist, subjunctive, active-"raise".

The next 3 times in verses 40, 44 and 54 it is future, indicative, active-"will raise".

The King James Bible marks out a difference as in v39 is "raise it up again" but in 40, 44 and 54 it is just "raise " without the "again". What insight into "anasteso" is the KJB giving us?

What point is being made by the first of the four being different?

Answer 1

The word is made up of ana - a prefix meaning up (from below) and a prolonged form of staō meaning to stand. Depending on who is performing te verb and in what sense will determine the best translation. In this case, it is being performed to the object so "to raise up" is the correct English not "to stand up".

Now Mood:

In the jussive Subjunctive Mood (expressing a command for the desired result) the English equivalent is "should". This is the mood in which the Father has expressed His will, hence KJV translates v 39.

I should raise it up again

It simply states the express desire and instruction of the Father in verse 39. And notice that "μη απολεσω" is also subjunctive, which translates to "should not perish".

The indicative mood presents the action or the event as something real or certain, so if performed by the subject on the object the English equivalent appropriate here is: "will"

I will raise him up (KJV)

So, no, it is not to make a certain point but to indicate the Mood: The will of the Father and the sure (future) actions of the Son.

I am curious to look into the English use of "again" in KJV when itis not translating the specific Greek word meaning to repeat. In this sense, it appears to me that it is used to indicate a sense of returning rather than repeating:

• bring me word again (Mat 2:8)
• it shall be measured to you again. (Mat 7:2)
• turn again and rend you. (Mat 7:6)
• shew John again (Mat 11:4)
• be raised again (Mat 16:21)

So I doubt that the "again" in the KJV is part of the verb morphology.

Answer 2

The idea of a last day resurrection of the righteous as discussed in John 6 (and introduced in John 5) sets out four things all surrounding the verb ἀνίστημι (anistémi) = to raise up.

• V39: And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise [aorist subjunctive] them up at the last day.
• V40: For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise [future indicative] him up at the last day.”
• V44: No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise [future indicative] him up at the last day
• V54: Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise [future indicative] him up at the last day.

We can observe several things about this passage:

1. Having introduced the idea in V39, "I will raise him up at the last day" becomes a refrain after each little sub-discussion.
2. Jesus actually lists three things that qualify them to be raised up on the last day namely:

• (V40): everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him has eternal life
• (V44): The Son provides the only path to the father who draws people (ie, we should not resist the drawing of the Father)
• (V54): whoever eats the flesh and drinks the blood of the Son has eternal life

3. When Jesus introduces the topic He is about to describe the process by which people qualify (in the present) for eternal life and to be raised up (a future event) on the last day. Thus, when He discussing both present and future the non-tense form of the verb is used, namely aorist. However, it is used in such a way that the timing is still clear, the raising will be done on the last day.

Thus, ἀνίστημι (anistémi) in V39 serves a different semantic and linguistic function from those in V40, V44, & V54.